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Bay Area Arts and Entertainment BlogFri, 13 Feb 2015 21:27:43 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1DVD reviews: “Mamma Mia!,” “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” “House Bunny,” “Traitor,” box sets, Blu-ray releaseshttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/12/18/dvd-reviews-mamma-mia-the-mummy-tomb-of-the-dragon-emperor-house-bunny-traitor-box-sets-blu-ray-releases/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/12/18/dvd-reviews-mamma-mia-the-mummy-tomb-of-the-dragon-emperor-house-bunny-traitor-box-sets-blu-ray-releases/#commentsThu, 18 Dec 2008 23:50:39 +0000Barry Cainehttp://www.ibabuzz.com/movies/?p=255Oh, Mamma! Itâ€™s so tempting to call â€œMamma Mia! The Movieâ€ a chick flick, especially after the opening 20 minutes or so of women hugging and giggling. But the catchy ABBA songs have universal appeal (â€œDancing Queenâ€ and â€œTake a… Continue Reading →]]>Oh, Mamma!
Itâ€™s so tempting to call â€œMamma Mia! The Movieâ€ a chick flick, especially after the opening 20 minutes or so of women hugging and giggling.
But the catchy ABBA songs have universal appeal (â€œDancing Queenâ€ and â€œTake a Chance on Meâ€ play in your brain on a continuous loop until youâ€™re ready for the loony bin).
Meryl Streepâ€™s a treat singing and dancing â€” maybe â€œshimmyingâ€ is a better word â€” in the lead. And the picture mixes in lusty men such as Pierce Brosnan (except when he, shudder, sings), Stellan Skarsgard and, while not lusty, stalwart Colin Firth to add a dollop of testosterone to the proceedings.
Adapted from the megahit stage production, the bouncy musical comedy is foot-tapping fun, despite a couple of scenes that run on forever.
Also, the filmâ€™s relentlessly upbeat, a bonus at this time of year. Streepâ€™s strong as Donna, a happily single mother raising her daughter Sophie on a Greek island.
Amanda Seyfried stands out as Sophie who, unbeknownst to her mother, has sent wedding invitations to the three men in momâ€™s life around the time she was conceived â€” to learn which is her father so he can escort her down the aisle.
The plot, such as it is, plays out on single disc and two-disc DVD and Blu-ray sets.
Extras: â€œSing Alongâ€ to on-screen lyrics from the 22 songs as the picture plays, new musical number (â€œThe Name of the Gameâ€) and commentary with director Phyllida Lloyd on all versions; deleted scenes, outtakes, making-of shorts, piece on becoming a singer, digital copy and more on two-disc sets and Blu-ray.
Mummy dearestBrendan Fraser dabbles in mummy mumbo-jumbo for the third time with â€œThe Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,â€ only this time he does it with Maria Bello as his wife Evelyn rather than Rachel Weisz.
A pity; Bello and Fraser go together about as well as Lily Tomlin and John Travolta in â€œMoment by Moment.â€
This â€œMummyâ€ brings plenty of action, the filmâ€™s biggest plus, as archeologist/tomb raider Rick Oâ€™Connell (Fraser) and Evelyn help their now-grown son (Luke Ford) deal with the newly resurrected Dragon Emperor (Jet Li) as he attempts to raise his sleeping army and conquer the world.
Or something like that.
The story runs out of juice before the finale, but that shouldnâ€™t bother fans of mindless escapism with computer-generated armies of the dead running rampant. Also on Blu-ray.
Extras: Gobs: deleted and extended scenes; making-of shorts; commentary; history of terra cotta soldiers; battle preps; more. Blu-ray also offers picture-in-picture and more.
Whatâ€™s up, Anna?
Launched by the â€œScary Movieâ€ series, Anna Faris has evolved into a comic star and a personal favorite of mine. I like her comic timing, sparkly personality and aura that suggests life just isnâ€™t that serious.
While thatâ€™s not enough to carry â€œHouse Bunnyâ€ into, say, â€œLegally Blondeâ€ territory, it sparks enough grins and chuckles to make the frothy film a hopping good time. (What? You expected a â€œHouse Bunnyâ€ piece without at least one bad pun?)
At 27, Farisâ€™ character is considered too old to be a Playboy Bunny, so sheâ€™s booted from the mansion and, before you can say, â€œOh, please, youâ€™ve got to be kidding,â€ she lands the job of house mother to the frumpiest, most awkward sorority on campus.
And who better to do a makeover â€” on Emma Stone, Kat Dennings and Katharine McPhee?
Despite having the depth of a dust mote, â€œHouse Bunnyâ€ is cute, amusing and a decent pick on a cold and rainy day. Also on Blu-ray.
Extras: Deleted scenes; shorts on Faris, Colin Hanks, costumes, makeup; music video.
Dandy Don does terrorismâ€œTraitorâ€ is a suspense drama that goes nowhere slowly.
Well, maybe thatâ€™s too negative. Don Cheadle convinces as an angst-laden ex-Special Forces member now dealing in explosives and climbing up the ladder in a terrorist cell targeting the U.S.
And there are a couple of cool explosions and tense moments.
But the pacing, a mix of stop and go, is mostly stop, and even Cheadle gets mired in the mucky screenplay.
OK, so maybe the description wasnâ€™t too negative after all.
With Guy Pearce as a fed who stays hot on Cheadleâ€™s trail.
Extras: Commentary by Cheadle and director Jeffrey Nachmanoff; shorts on stunts, effects and locations.
Box setsâ€œMr. Bean: The Ultimate Collectionâ€: Seven discs, 14 episodes from original series, â€œMr. Bean: The Movie,â€ â€œMr. Beanâ€™s Holiday,â€ â€œMr. Bean: The Animated Series,â€ more.
â€œThe New Christmas Classicsâ€: â€œGeorge of the Jungle: Jungle Bells,â€ â€œCasperâ€™s Haunted Christmas,â€ â€œGumby Seasonâ€™s Greetings,â€ â€œFat Albertâ€™s Christmas Special.â€
â€œThe Original Christmas Classicsâ€: Remastered versions of â€œRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,â€ â€œFrosty the Snowman,â€ â€œSanta Claus is Cominâ€™ to Town,â€ â€œThe Little Drummer Boy,â€ â€œMr. Magooâ€™s Christmas Carol,â€ â€œCricket on the Hearth,â€ â€œFrosty Returns,â€ plus holiday music CD.
Also on DVDâ€œGoldilocks and the 3 Bearsâ€: Reality TV hits the fairy-tale circuit with Goldilocks and the three bears living together in â€œBig Brotherâ€-like show; computer-animated.
â€œThe Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea Special Editionâ€: Ariel and Eric hide their daughterâ€™s mermaid heritage to keep her safe from the dastardly Morgana.
â€œSangre de Mi Sangerâ€: Thief steals identity of young Mexican illegal in New York City to find his father; 2007 Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner.
â€œWild Countryâ€: Wolf-like beast stalks church youth group, including teen, her ex and an abandoned baby, through Scottish Highlands.
New on Blu-rayâ€œCoach Carterâ€:Samuel L. Jackson as controversial Richmond High hoops coach.
â€œDeath Proof: Unrated and Extended Cutâ€: Kurt Russell drives a souped-up car and kills women.
â€œThe Heartbreak Kidâ€: Shnook (Ben Stiller) meets soulmate on his honeymoon.
â€œHot Rodâ€: â€œSNLâ€™sâ€ Andy Samberg plays a disrespected amateur stuntman.
â€œIn the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Taleâ€: Jason Statham wields a sword.
â€œInto the Wildâ€: Emile Hirsch as young adventurer Christopher McCandless.â€œOld School: Unratedâ€:Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn party on, dude.
â€œPlanet Terrorâ€: Zombie romp with Rose McGowan replacing her lost leg with a machine-gun prosthesis.
â€œThe Third Manâ€: Taut Orson Welles-Joseph Cotton suspense thriller ranks among the all-time greats.
â€œTommy Boy: Holy Schnike Edition": Salesmen (Chris Farley, David Spade) hit the road to save the family biz.
TV on DVD
â€œAqua Teen Hunger Force: Volume 6â€
â€œThe Cheetah Girls: One World â€“ Extended Music Editionâ€
â€œGeneration Killâ€ (HBO miniseries with Marines in action at the start of the Iraq War)
â€œPetticoat Junction: The Official First Seasonâ€
â€œTransformers Energon: The Ultimate Collectionâ€]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/12/18/dvd-reviews-mamma-mia-the-mummy-tomb-of-the-dragon-emperor-house-bunny-traitor-box-sets-blu-ray-releases/feed/2Mamma Mia! soundtrack tops Billboard chartshttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/08/08/mamma-mia-soundtrack-tops-billboard-charts/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/08/08/mamma-mia-soundtrack-tops-billboard-charts/#commentsFri, 08 Aug 2008 18:00:03 +0000Karen D'Souzahttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/?p=5481

Voulez-vous? Aha! MAMMA MIA! is topping the Billboard charts. The soundtrack to the guilty pleasure flick of the summer is now the best-selling album in the Bay Area and third in the nation. We’re talking above Coldplay, Miley Cyrus and… Continue Reading →

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Voulez-vous? Aha!MAMMA MIA! is topping the Billboard charts. The soundtrack to the guilty pleasure flick of the summer is now the best-selling album in the Bay Area and third in the nation. We're talking above Coldplay, Miley Cyrus and Duffy, people!
The ABBA-esque movie, which stars the songs of the Swedish '70s supergroup as well as Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and (YUM!) Colin Firth, has reportedly grossed $88 million since its July 18 release. Sing it with me: money, money, money, always sunny, in a rich man's world.]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/08/08/mamma-mia-soundtrack-tops-billboard-charts/feed/0mammamovieMamma Mia! movie reviewhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/07/18/mamma-mia-movie-review/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/07/18/mamma-mia-movie-review/#commentsFri, 18 Jul 2008 18:00:18 +0000Karen D'Souzahttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/?p=5457

Mamma Mia! Here we go again. My, my. First the Abba-solutely silly Broadway musical raked in the money, money, money on stage. Now, it has boogied onto the big screen with an all-star cast, including the doyenne of American film,… Continue Reading →

]]>Mamma Mia! Here we go again. My, my.
First the Abba-solutely silly Broadway musical raked in the money, money, money on stage. Now, it has boogied onto the big screen with an all-star cast, including the doyenne of American film, Meryl Streep, with boomer arm-candy courtesy of Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth. A seriously high yum factor may well be reason enough for chick-flick devotees to take a chance on "Mamma Mia! The Movie,'' despite its smorgasbord of empty calories.
Rest assured that you needn't know "Fernando'' from "Footloose'' to fall for this euphorically cheesy movie musical. If you're in the mood for the silver screen equivalent of beach reading â€” we're talking sipping mojitos while flipping through Cosmo â€” this is a beyond-glossy guilty-pleasure laced with feel-good feminism and life-affirming post-40 friskiness. There was something in the air that night, indeed. Sondheim it ain't, but it does hit the sweet spot as a giddy escape from a stressed-out world. Gimme, gimme, gimme.
Make no mistake, the movie lacks the pop of the stage version â€” even the adrenaline-charged "Voulez-Vous'' doesn't have the same juice. But there are some luscious visuals (such as the Greek isles and Mssrs. Brosnan and Firth) that make up for this failing.
As a fan of the Brosnan oeuvre from back in the day (be "Steele,'' my heart), I can state uncategorically that he's as dishy as ever. Alas, and it pains me to admit it, the poor dear

dear can't sing (at all) â€” which can be a setback when starring in a musical. He may be singing "S.O.S.,'' but it's a total "Waterloo.'' Magically, however, it's less of an obstacle in the scenes where Brosnan does that adorable little crinkly thing with his eyes. But I digress.The confetti-thin plot floats along as Donna (Streep), a '70s rocker chick turned single mom, watches her daughter, Sophie (the luminous Amanda Seyfried), walk down the aisle. Only the bride also has invited her three possible dads (Brosnan, Firth and Stellan Skarsgard) to the wedding. But the real guests of honor are the Swedish pop hits that hold this singalong together.
While Streep may not have quite the pipes for Donna, which ought to be a powerhouse role vocally, she invests each note with such gravitas that it hardly matters, especially in the deeply moving ballads "Winner Takes It All'' and "Slipping Through My Fingers.'' She's a super trouper, as it were, and you can't help rooting for her.
For the most part, director Phyllida Lloyd makes sure this kitsch-magnet doesn't take itself too seriously. However, Christine Baranski seems a bit grim as Donna's femme fatale pal in "Does Your Mother Know?'' She misses the shameless silliness that buoys the showstopping "Dancing Queen'' number, which embodies the whole you-go-girl vibe. Firth shows off his customary Darcy-worthy delectableness in "Our Last Summer.''
But it's the wonderfully wry Julie Walters who best captures the goofy exuberance of Abba-dom in "Take a Chance on Me.''
Between songs, the film's dopey sight gags and bawdy winks exert an irresistible anti-gravitational pull on the corners of the mouth. What the movie lacks is the raw Dionysian charge that makes theatergoers dance in the aisles. Certainly, the encore mega-mix, sung by Streep and company decked out in the spandex cat suits of yore, reminds you that a movie just can't generate the same kinetic ecstasy as a live performance.
For the record, my ringer for the evening, Jan Half, who has seen the stage version no less than 13 times, thought my quibbles were drivel. All the 54-year-old from San Mateo could say was, well, thank you for the music. The film not only exceeded her expectations; it brought tears to her eyes and a grin to her face. Who can argue with that? Not me, Chiquitita, not me.]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/07/18/mamma-mia-movie-review/feed/26mammamovie